GAA managerial merry-go-round: Who will fill the eight intercounty vacancies?

By recent standards, it is set up to be one of the more sedate spins on the Gaelic football managerial merry-go-round, but we may not be done yet.

As it stands, just eight managerial positions have to be filled which amounts to a degree of stability not seen in some time.

In last year's inter-county close season no fewer than 13 counties changed the man in their hotseat, and when you add in the mid-season departures of Paddy Carr in Donegal, Ray Dempsey in Limerick and Rory Gallagher in Derry, that number climbs to 16.

On that basis, the change-over rate this time is running at half of last year's tally, with the window shutting rapidly on the likelihood of any further vacancies opening up.

But if there is, it is most likely to be the biggest one of all. Dessie Farrell still has a year to run on his latest term, but the seductive narrative around last month's All-Ireland victory of it being a 'last dance' invites speculation as to the champions' manager also having had his final spin around the floor.

Given how early the season shuts down, if Farrell is reconsidering, both he and Dublin have plenty of time on their side in sharp contrast to the bombshell his predecessor Jim Gavin detonated when he announced the end of his seven-year reign on the final day in November in 2019.

Whether Farrell stays or goes - and the odds are very much on the former - there will be no such drama this time. But that is not to say that there may not be some twists and turns in the weeks ahead.

Perhaps the most fascinating one could be up north where the assumption that Ciaran Meenagh's interim role would be framed on a more long-term basis as Derry manager is shrouded in some doubt.

The Tyrone man oversaw Derry's retention of their Ulster title while the ambition they showed in outplaying Kerry for large swathes of their All-Ireland semi-final clash won huge acclaim.

Despite that, Meenagh, who joined the Derry set-up in 2019 under Rory Gallagher's predecessor Damian McErlain, is not assured of wearing the Oak Leaf bainisteoir's bib next season.

The other vacancy that will generate huge national interest is the anticipated return of Jim McGuiness to the Donegal hotseat, a decade after vacating it.

While speculation about the possible return of their former All-Ireland-winning manager has been revealed to be just wishful thinking in the past, this time the push to get him is for real.

McGuinness's hopes of breaking into professional soccer management continue to be frustrated, while Donegal's need has rarely been greater, which could well mean that they might meet each other's needs.

What is certain is that while the inter-county fields are silent now, there will be a few committee rooms around the country who could be primed to rock the GAA's news agenda in the weeks ahead.

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One of the rare few who operate a quite transparent process. Four candidates, current goalkeeper and captain Raymond Galligan, former county star Jason Reilly, former Clare manager Michael McDermott and ex-Down captain Danny Hughes are all on the shortlist. It is hard to pick a favourite, but it may come down to Galligan or Reilly.

The former's presence on the list, not least given his status as a player without any managerial experience, took people by surprise, but he is likely to compensate for that with a heavy-hitting ticket, while O'Reilly has a CV that includes leading Cavan Gaels to a county title and was in the past part of the Leitrim management team under Terry Hyland.

Interviews are taking place this month but, unless a special ratification summit is called, no regular county board meeting is scheduled for this month.

New manager's brief: Consolidate their position as a Division 2 team and make it to an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.

This remains very much a fluid situation. The assumption that Ciaran Meenagh - who took over from Rory Gallagher mid-championship after the latter was the subject of domestic abuse allegations from his estranged wife - would stay on may be some way wide of the mark.

Discussions are ongoing as to what shape and who will be heading up the management team for the Ulster champions next season and it could be even deep into next month before Ulster Champions will know for certain who will be at the helm next season.

New manager's brief: Simple but challenging, nothing less than winning the Sam Maguire.

That is where they are at now.

Such is the pining that it comes as no surprise Jim McGuinness's name has dominated the conversation.

There is nothing new in that - it was also the case last year, which was not that far off the mark given that he was committed to playing a back-up role in a Rory Kavanagh-led ticket.

Could it happen? Of course, it could. McGuinness' pursuit of a career in soccer is in danger of becoming a tale of unrequited interest and his status in Donegal - and indeed in the wider game - is such that his second coming could see a divided county rally around one figure.

And the talent - irrespective of their league status, Donegal are assuredly a top-eight county - is there to work on, but a county board bedevilled by chaos and controversy may need some changes at executive level if this is to happen.

The presence of two of his former teammates - Anthony Molloy and, in particular, Martin McHugh - adds to the sense that Donegal have got not just their man, but The Man.

New manager's brief: Get some pride back into a county whose reputation has been battered. Mind, getting back to an All-Ireland quarter-final might do just that.

There would appear to be no rush in the process to find a replacement for Colm Collins, although county board chairman Kieran Keating this week revealed the make-up of the subcommittee to lead the process. which includes former county stars David Tubridy and Ger Keane.

It is likely to be a tough search, not least amid fears that Clare could be without a number of key players next season as they return to the league's third tier for the first time in eight years.

At this stage, no candidates have been identified although the presence of former Kerry All-Ireland winner and long-time Banner resident Declan O'Keeffe will attract attention.

The Rathmore native is heavily involved in the club game and having served in Collins' management team in the past, it will be a surprise if he is not asked for a declaration of interest.

After that, who knows, but if Clare wants to think big then one candidate stands out.

Having taken the Dublin ladies back to the top, Mick Bohan would be quite the capture and given his previous stint coaching under Collins and his strong Clare connections - his father is from the county and he is the nephew of former Clare hurling manager

Fr Harry Bohan - this might engage his interest. The expectation is that it could be well into next month before there is any news.

New manager's brief: The obvious target is to get back into Division 2, but there may be a need for a rebuild. Going after the Tailteann Cup might prove to be a more beneficial as well as a more realistic target in the short term target.

The process is at an advanced stage with the list whittled down to a final three - with outgoing interim manager Mark Fitzgerald, minor boss John Ryan and former selector Jimmy Lee all in the frame.

Fitzgerald had been part of Ray Dempsey's management team and took over after the Mayo man lost the dressing room mid-season. He appeared to stabilse the group, although their Tailteann Cup quarter-final defeat to Laois was unexpected.

The Kerryman's subsequent decision to step away seemed to clear the road for everyone else, but his change of heart could be interpreted as a desire for continuity within the playing group.

John Ryan oversaw a progressive season with the minors while Jimmy Lee is a brother of Billy, the former manager who sparked a resurgence in the county's fortunes.

The expectation is that the chosen one will be revealed shortly. New manager's brief: Getting Limerick back to Division 2 might be a stretch, but going very deep in the Tailteann Cup would not be.

In keeping with how the air has gone out of football in the county, the process to find a successor to David Power has been ongoing for some time but without gaining much public traction.

From last four in the Sam Maguire to not even making the last 12 of the Tailteann Cup inside three years, the fall and fall of the Premier County has now left them rooted to the game's bottom tier.

Ideally, they could do with a heavy-hitting outside manager, but given where they are, they are hardly in a great position to attract one.

Internally, there are no obvious candidates, although current under-20 manager Niall Fitzgerald is highly regarded. But it is understood he wants to stay with the development group.

The expectation is that the new manager will be in place for the start of the knock-out stages of the county football championship, which is the middle of next month.

New manager's brief: Promotion from Division 4 would be good, but what is needed is a long-term build as much as a short-term fix.

Billy Sheehan stepped down less than a fortnight after the O'Moore County's eight-goal mauling by Down in the Tailteann Cup semi-final, but it has all gone very quiet since.

The search for a successor is being headed up by county board chairman PJ Kelly and football board chairman Tony Bambrick, but it is unclear how evolved the process is.

No county board meeting has been held since Sheehan's departure, while one scheduled to take place at the start of this month was postponed.

Of the names linked with the vacancy, the most eye-grabbing is Brian Flanagan, who steered the Kildare under-20s to an All-Ireland title this year but expressed his ambition to manage at senior level as one of his reasons for leaving the Lilywhites.

Given that the previous man to achieve that feat was Davy Burke - now Roscommon's acclaimed manager - that may not be a bad road for Laois to go down.

Another Kildare native Shane McCormack, who is currently managing the Armagh ladies, has also been mentioned as a potential candidate.

But the name getting increased traction is the former Thomas Davis and Naas manager Paul Kelly, who is part of Oisin McConville's management team in Wicklow, who could be in the frame.

There is likely to be some way to run before we find out who the chosen one is.

New manager's brief: Laois are not a Division 4 county and the first task of whoever gets the job will be to ensure they are in that particular division for as little time as possible.

The expectation is that Declan Kelly, who led the county to that stunning under-20 All-Ireland win in 2021, is set to take on a position that still reeks of poignancy after the sudden death of Liam Kearns earlier this year.

It is believed that the Killonfert man, who also managed St Loman's to Westmeath county success, is in the business of putting together his management team and the white smoke is likely to appear sooner rather than later.

New manager's brief: Getting out of Division 3 has been a bugbear for the county and the only time they cracked that nut was in the abbreviated 2021 campaign. If that cannot be done, this is a county that could really do with getting the Tailteann Cup in their hands to build some momentum.